Modular door handle



9 11%? R. M. M CLiNTOCK MODULAR noon HANDLE Filed Aug. 21, 1964 ROBERT M. MCCLINTOCK United States Patent 3,313,586 MODULAR DOOR HANDLE Robert M. McClintock, Canoga Park, Calif, assignor to Aerpat Aktien Gesellschaft, Glarus, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Aug. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 391,839 12 Claims. (Cl. 312-320) This invention relates broadly to modular cabinet structures and more particularly to a combination handle and latching device for use in locking and removing chassis units from modular cabinet structures.

Modular cabinet structures for housing electronic circuitry having the modules thereof made up of individual chassis units selectively removable and replaceable therein are in widespread use in the present art. These chassis units generally comprise drawer-like structures containing modular portions of the electronic circuitry represented by the cabinet or cabinets in which they are installed. The modules are generally connected to the circuit by multiple prong disconnects situated at the back of the unit and the back wall of the structure defining the space in which the unit is disposed. Connection and disconnection of this connector is achieved by the initial withdrawal or final replacement of the chassis unit in the cabinet. Because these connectors have a number of individual male prongs and female receptacles, a substantial amount of frictional force is encountered in the disconnecting and connection operation for the unit. To facilitate the initial breakaway of the unit in removal or the final seating thereof in installation, it has been common in the art to provide devices to afford leverage for the breakaway and/ or seating portion of the installation of the chassis. These devices have usually been combined with a locking device to provide locking device to provide secure retention of the chassis units in place. A device of the above kind, and one with which this invention is particularly concerned, consists of a lever pivotally mounted to a fixed handle on the front face of the unit, the lever cooperating with a fixed lug or keeper on the face of the cabinet to provide leverage for final seating or removal of the unit as well as locking of the unit in place.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved handle and latching mechanism for the abovedescribed purposes, the latching mechanism being adapted to be securely retained in a locking position by a novel trigger retainer and release mechanism protected by the surface of the handle to provide safe retention of the latch in the locked condition.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel trigger mechanism incorporated in a latching mechanism for modular chassis which can be locked in the latch retaining condition to provide added safety in the locking operation thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a simple and easily operated lock in combination with a latch trigger mechanism for modular chassis to provide fast and simple unlocking of the latch mechanism.

These and other objects of the invention will become more obvious to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawing wherein like parts thereof are indicated by like numerals throughout the figures and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a latch and handle in accordance with the invention showing the latching mechanism thereof in the locked configuration;

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the latch and handle mechanism of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmented view of the device of FIG- URE l partly in section showing the trigger portion of the latch mechanism in a released configuration;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of the device of FIGURE 1 partly in section showing the latch portion of the mechanism in the unlocked configuration; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view of a portion of the trigger lock mechanism in section and in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings, a handle indicated generally at 10 is shown afiixed to the front face of a modular chassis unit shown in phantom at 12. The handle is basically made up of a cross member 14 with a second and first or upper and lower leg 16 and 18 respectively connecting a base member 20 thereto. An elastomeric damping cushion 22 is disposed between the base member 29 and the front of the chassis 12. The cross member 14 is generally channel or U-shaped in cross section and is composed of an inner portion 24 having side walls 26 and 28 extending therefrom. The upper leg 16 has provided therein a hollow chamber 30 which is communicative with the interior of the cross member 14 and, through an opening 32, with the space defined by the members of the handle 10. The lower leg 18 is provided with a recess in the lower surface thereof which is defined by arcuate wall 34, the recess being communicative with the interior of the handle 10 as shown.

A keeper generally shown at 36 is fixed to a cabinet, a portion of which is shown in phantom lines at 38, adjacent the lower leg 18 of the handle. The keeper consists of a pair of elongated members 40 and 42 connected together by a lug 44, the assembly being fixed to the cabinet to remain stationary as part of the structure thereof.

A latch lever 46 is pivotally mounted to the handle at pivot point 48 disposed on the leg 18. The latch lever is provided with a hook member 56 on one end thereof, the hook member being adapted to engage the lug 44 of the keeper 36 as shown. The hook member has formed therein, inner and outer camming surfaces 52 and 54 respectively, these surfaces serving a purpose to be described in more detail later. The inner surface of the lever 46 is provided, proximate the pivot point thereof, with an elastomeric bumper 56 disposed to be compressed between the inner wall thereof and the inner portion 24 of the cross member.

A trigger 58 is pivotally mounted proximate the free end of the handle 46 at a pivot point 6!) on the upper leg 16. The trigger is provided with a hook 62 on the free end thereof which engages a recess 64 in the free end of the lever 46. The trigger is formed with a trigger surface 66 projecting through the opening 32 in the leg 16 to extend into the space defined by the components of the handle 18. A spring 68, coiled around the pivot 60, is disposed to bias the book 62 into engagement with the recess 64.

A trigger lock 70 is pivotally mounted between the side walls 26 and 28 by a pivot 72 and is provided with a locking surface 74 disposed proximate the hook 62 to thereby block, when disposed in the configuration of FIG- URE 1, actuation of the trigger 58. The trigger lock 70 has formed thereon a projecting tab 76 to provide a means for actuation thereof.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the trigger lock 7% is provided with a bore 78 therethrou'gh, the bore containing a pair of detent balls 80 biased apart by a spring 82. The detent balls 80 coop erate with indentations 84 in the side walls 26 and 28 to provide a means of resisting movement of the trigger lock 70 from the configuration of FIGURE 1. A second pair of indentations 86 (FIGURE 1) are also provided in the side walls 26 and 28 for purposes to be described below.

In operation, and with the device initially configured in the locked position as shown in FIGURE 1, the modular unit to which the handle is connected is removed from the cabinet 38 by first rotating the trigger lock 70 to the position shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings by upward pressure on the projecting tab 76. Sufficient upward pressure on the tab cams the ball detents 80 in wardly against the bias of the spring 82 and, when the trigger lock 70 reaches the rotative position shown in FIG- URE 3, the detent balls engage the indentations 86 to retain the trigger lock in the rotated condition. Rotation of the trigger lock moves the locking surface 74 from proximity to the hook 62 and allows the trigger 58 to be pivoted by pressure on the trigger surface 66 thereby with drawing the hook 62 from the recess 64. Withdrawal of the hook from the recess releases the lever 46 and, through the bias force exerted on the lever by compression of the bumper 56, provides a pivoting of the free end of the lever to clear the cross member 14 as shown in FIG- URE 3.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, the free end of the lever 46 may then be grasped and rotate-d downwardly bringing the outer camming surface 54 of the hook member 50 to bear on the lug 44 of the keeper 36. Continued rotation of the lever 46 in a downward direction to the non-locking position shown in FIGURE 4 exerts a camming force between the handle 14 and the cabinet 38 thereby providing the leverage to break the connection of the modular unit free from that of the cabinet. The relative dimensions of the keeper 36, the lug 44 and the camming surface 54 of the lever 46 are such that, once the configuration of FIGURE 4 is achieved, the modular unit is entirely free from the above referred to frictional force of the connecting means and the unit may then be withdrawn from the cabinet by a straight pull on the handle 14.

Installation of the modular unit in the cabinet is achieved by reversing the above-described steps, the unit is inserted into the cabinet by simple hand pressure on the handle 14 until the hook 56 engages the lug 44 as shown in FIGURE 4. At this point the lever 46 is rotated upwardly bringing the camming surface 52 to bear on the lug 44. Continued upward rotation of the lever 46 to the position of FIGURE 1 provides a camming force to overcome the frictional force necessary to engage the connections of the modular unit to fully seat the unit. The free end of the lever 46 is provided with an angled surface 88 which deflects the hook 62 of the trigger 58 to allow the lever 46 to properly seat. The bias of the spring 68 automatically returns the trigger to the position of FIGURE 1 so that the hook 62 enters the recess 64 of the lever 46 to engage and retain the lever in the locked position. The unit then, in this configuration, is firmly locked within the cabinet but may be released by simple upward pressure on the trigger surface 66. To provide added safety, the trigger lock 70 is then rotated downwardly by downward pressure on the projecting tabs 76 so that the trigger 58 is again blocked in a position engaging the lever 46. This insures, against accidental actuation of the trigger and requires a conscious yet simple two-step procedure for release of a unit.

This invention provides a safe, secure yet rapid and simple means for locking and unlocking modular units in a modular chassis. The locking of the trigger prevents accidental disengagement of the chassis while providing a simple maintenance-free lock which may be quickly disengaged. The tab 76 may be provided, on the undersurface thereof, with some distinguishing mark to indicate the condition of the trigger lock of the units. In this invention it is contemplated that a red undersurface of the tab will be provided so that, if the trigger lock is in an unlocked condition, the red undersurface will be readily discernible to the operator of the equipment. With a simple, single-handed operation, by gripping the cross member 14 with the fingers, the tab is moved upwardly by thumb pressure to unlock the trigger. The trigger then may be immediately actuated by upward pressure of the index finger thereby releasing the lever 46 which automatically pivots down under the influence of the bias force of the bumper 56 so that it may be grasped and rotated downwardly to free the chassis from the cabinet. The operating parts of the locking mechanism are simple, inexpensive and should provide extremely long maintenance-free operation.

What has been described above is set forth as exemplary of a teaching of the invention to enable those skilled in the art in the practice thereof. It should therefore be understood that the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is intended as novel and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A handle and latch for facilitating installation and removal of a modular chassis unit from a cabinet, the handle having a hooked lever movably associated therewith for engaging a keeper on the cabinet to lock the unit therein, a trigger system for selectively retaining or releasing the lever comprising a trigger mounted on the handle, said trigger being movable with respect to said handle between a lever engaging configuration adapted to retain said lever in a locked position and a releasing configuration adapted to disengage said lever and, means associated with said trigger to releasably lock it in said engaging configuration.

2. A chassis handle and latching mechanism for facilitating installation and removal of a modular chassis unit from a cabinet comprising:

at least one handle fixed to said chassis;

a latch system associated with said handle comprising:

a keeper fixed on said cabinet adjacent said handle;

a lever mounted on said handle, said lever being movable with respect to said handle between a locking position and a non-locking position;

a hook mounted on one end of said lever, said hook being disposed to engage said keeper to lock the unit in the cabinet when said lever is in said locking position;

a trigger system associated with said handle comprising a trigger mounted on said handle, said trigger being movable with respect to said handle between an engaging configuration adapted to engage and retain said lever in said locked position and a releasing configuration adapted to disengage said lever for movement from said locked position;

and means associated with said trigger to releasably lock it in said engaging configuration.

3. A chassis handle and latching mechanism for facilitating installation and removal of a modular chassis unit from a cabinet comprising:

at least one handle fixed to said unit comprising:

a cross member adapted to be gripped by the hand of an operator during handling of the unit,

a leg extending between said unit and at least one end of said cross member, and means to connect said leg to the unit;

a latch. system associated with said handle comprising:

a keeper fixed to said cabinet adjacent one of the legs of said handle;

a lever pivotally mounted to the leg of said handle adjacent said keeper at a point intermediate the ends thereof, said lever being movable with respect to said handle between a locking position parallel to said cross member and a non-locking position angularly displaced from said cross member;

a hook mounted on one end of said lever, said hook being disposed to engage said keeper to lock the unit in the cabinet when said lever is in said locking position;

a trigger system associated with said handle comprising a trigger pivotally mounted on said handle,

said trigger being movable with respect to said handle between engaging configuration adapted to engage and retain said lever in said locked position and a releasing configuration to disengage said lever for movement from said locking position;

means associated with said trigger to releasably lock it in said engaging configuration.

4. A handle in accordance with claim 3 wherein said hook is defined by a rectilinear outer camming surface disposed substantially on a line intersecting the pivot point for said lever, a rectilinear inner camming surface coextensive with said outer camming surface and disposed on a line spaced from and substantially parallel to said outer surface, a rectilinear surface extending between and perpendicular to said first-mentioned surfaces, said outer surface further being adapted to engage said keeper and cam said unit from said cabinet to a disconnected position when said lever is moved from said locking position to a non-locking position perpendicular to said cross memher, said inner surface being adapted to engage said keeper when said lever is moved from said non-locking position to said locking position with said unit in said disconnected position to cam and lock said unit fully into said cabinet.

5. A chassi handle and latching mechanism in accordance with claim 3 wherein said means associated with said trigger comprises a locking member pivotally mounted on said handle to move between a locked and unlocked position, said locking member when disposed in said locked position being adapted to block said trigge in said engaging configuration.

6. A chassis handle and latching mechanism for facilitating installation and removal of a modular chassis unit from a cabinet including:

at least one handle fixed to said unit comprising:

a cross member adapted to be gripped by the hand of an operator during handling of the unit;

a first and second leg extending between said unit and said cross member including means to connect said legs to said unit;

said cross member, said legs and the unit defining an annulus therebetween;

a latch system associated with said cabinet comprising:

a keeper fixed to the cabinet adjacent said first leg;

a lever pivotally mounted on said first leg, said lever being movable with respect to said handle between a locking poistion and a non-locking position; a hook mounted on one end of said lever, said hook being disposed to engage said keeper to lock the unit in the cabinet when said lever is in said locking position;

a trigger system associated with said handle comprisa trigger member mounted on said second leg, said trigger being pivoted at one end thereof to swing coplanar to said handle between a lever retaining and a lever releasing position, said trigger being disposed in said retaining position to engage the free end of said lever when it is in said locking position to provide retention thereof in said locked position, a trigger surface on said member, said surface disposed to project into the said annular space when said trigger is in said lever retaining position;

and a lock mounted proximate said trigger member,

said lock being eccentrically pivoted and disposed to swing from a trigger locking to a trigger clearing position, said lock abutting said trigger in said locking position to block said trigger in said lever engaging position.

7. A chassis handle and latching mechanism for facilitating installation and removal of a modular chassis unit rom a cabinet including:

at least one handle fixed to said unit comprising:

a cross member adapted to be gripped by the hand of an operator during handling of the unit, said cross member having channel therein disposed along the length thereof to face away from the unit;

a first leg extending between one end of said cross member and said unit to provide connection therebetween, at least a portion of said first leg having a recess therein disposed along the length thereof in coplanar communicative relationship with the channel of said cross member, said recess further being disposed to face in a direction away from said one end,

a second leg extending between the other end of said cross member and said unit in parallel relationship to said first leg, to provide connection therebetw'een, said second leg having a hollow portion coaxially disposed therein and communicative with the channel of said cross member, said second leg further having an opening in coplanar relationship with said cross member, said opening being communicative with said h llow portion and disposed to face toward said one end,

said unit, said cross member and said legs defining an open annulus therebetween,

a keeper fix'ed to the cabinet adjacent said first leg;

a lever mounted on said handle, said lever being movable with respect to said handle between a locking position and a non-locking position, a hook mounted on one end of said lever, said hook being disposed to engage said keeper to lock the unit in the cabinet when said lever is in said locking position;

a trigger syst'em associated with said handle comprising a trigger mounted on said handle, said trigger being movable with respect to said handle between an engaging configuration adapted to engage and retain said lever in said locking position and a releasing configuration adapted to disengage said lever for movement from said locking position, means to bias said trigger in said engaging position;

and means associated with said trigger to rel'easably lock it in said engaging configuration.

8. A handle in accordance with claim 7 wherein said lever comprises:

an elongated body portion disposed in said channel; a hook connected to one end of said body and disposed in said recess, a pivot pin between said body and said hook and through said first arm to mount said lever for pivotal coplanar movement with respect to said handle, an elastomeric bumper between said body and the transverse face of said channel, said bumper being adapted to be elastically deformed when said body is fully disposed therein, the transverse wall of said recess being configured to engage said hook when said body is at right angles with said cross member.

9. A handle in accordance with claim 8 wherein said hook is defin'ed by a rectilinear outer camming surface disposed substantially on a line intersecting the pivot point for said lever, a rectilinear inner camming surface coextensive with said outer camming surface and disposed on a line spaced from and substantially parallel to said outer surface, a rectilinear surface extending between and perpendicular to said first-mentioned surfaces, said outer surface further being adapted to engage said keeper to c am said unit from said cabinet to a disconnected position when said lever is moved from said locking position to a nonlocking position perpendicular to said cross member, said inner surface being adapted to engage said keeper when said lever is moved from said non-locking position to said locking position with said unit in said disconnected position to cam and lock said unit fully into said cabinet.

10. A handle in accordance with claim 9 wherein said trigger comprises:

a trigger member mounted in the hollow portion of said second leg, said trigger being pivoted at one end thereof to swing coplanar to said handle between a lever retaining and a lever releasing position, said trigger being disposed in said retaining position to engage the free end of said lever when it is in said locking position to provide retention thereof in said position, a trigger surface on said member, said surface disposed to project through said opening into the space defined by the members of said handle when trigger is in said lever retaining position and to be displaced into said hollow portion when said trigger is in said lever releasing position.

11. A handle in accordance wtih claim 10 wherein said means to lock said trig er comprises a lock mounted proximate said trigger member in said channel, said lock being eccentrically pivoted and disposed to pivot from a trigger blocking to a trigger clearing position, said lock abutting said trigger in said blocking position to block said trigger in said lever engaging position, a tab lever on said lock disposed to extend from said handle for actuation of said lock and to provide an indicia to indicate the position of said lock, and detent means to retain said lock in each of said positions.

12. In a handle and latch for facilitating installation and removal of a modular chassis unit from a cabinet,

the handle defining an annular grip and having a hooked lever movably associated therewith, the lever engaging a keeper on the cabinet to lock the unit therein, a trigger system for selectively retaining and releasing the lever comprising a trigger mounted on the handle, said trigger being movable with respect to said handle between an engaging configuration adapted to engage and retain said lever in a locked position wherein said trigger projects into the annulus formed by the handle and a releasing configuration adapted to disengage said lever, wherein said trigger conforms to the surfaces defining the handle, and means including a spring to bias said trigger in said engaging position and a lock to releasably lock said trigger in said engaging position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,140,905 7/1964 Trotter et al. 312-320 3,193,342 7/1965 Sauter 312320 3,223,740 1/1966 Lundell 312-320 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

12. IN A HANDLE AND LATCH FOR FACILITATING INSTALLATION AND REMOVAL OF A MODULAR CHASSIS UNIT FROM A CABINET, THE HANDLE DEFINING AN ANNULAR GRIP AND HAVING A HOOKED LEVER MOVABLY ASSOCIATED THEREWITH, THE LEVER ENGAGING A KEEPER ON THE CABINET TO LOCK THE UNIT THEREIN, A TRIGGER SYSTEM FOR SELECTIVELY RETAINING AND RELEASING THE LEVER COMPRISING A TRIGGER MOUNTED ON THE HANDLE, SAID TRIGGER BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID HANDLE BETWEEN AN ENGAGING CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND RETAIN SAID LEVER IN A LOCKED POSITION WHEREIN SAID TRIGGER PROJECTS INTO THE ANNULUS FORMED BY THE HANDLE AND A RELEASING CONFIGURATION ADAPTED TO DISENGAGE SAID LEVER, WHEREIN SAID TRIGGER CONFORMS TO THE SURFACES DEFINING THE HANDLE, AND MEANS INCLUDING A SPRING TO BIAS SAID TRIGGER IN SAID ENGAGING POSITION AND A LOCK TO RELEASABLY LOCK SAID TRIGGER IN SAID ENGAGING POSITION. 